I had a big ol' long post typed out, and it got deleted.
I'll basically sum up my EUREKA! moment from riding this weekend: outside rein only through the lines and after a jump makes Arwen happy. No more bracing on the bit, or dragging me through the corners. It was seriously amazing. More later as we finesse this newfound trick, and make sure its not just a fluke.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
WOD 10/06/11
Felt pretty good last night. I think I really enjoy doing straightforward strength work, and I haven't gotten a chance to do it in awhile. Was a nice break from the looooooong metcon stuff we've been doing as of late.
5x5 push press (same weight across the five sets). Strict presses, no help from the legs. Used the 45 lb bar, 12.5 on each side. Last few reps were tough.
Then...
20-15-10-5
Sumo DL high pulls (65lbs, I technically did it at 63lbs since I used the womens bar. But I still say it was RX'd)
box jumps (did it on the women's box, which I believe is 20 inches)
For some twisted reason, I REALLY like Sumo DL HP's. I think because its mainly a leg/hip driven movement, which is where most of my strength is. I also like box jumps. Simple and straight forward. Did it in 5:55, which I'm pretty happy with. Overall, good workout and man did it help me get over the residual soreness I still had from Monday. My hamstrings have been SO TIGHT, which tend to get somewhat loosened up when I'm riding but not this time. I think the DL's helped alot because they're feeling better this morning.
Anyway, lesson on Arwen tonight with Trainer's new assistant/friend/helper. Hopefully I don't make too big a fool of myself.
5x5 push press (same weight across the five sets). Strict presses, no help from the legs. Used the 45 lb bar, 12.5 on each side. Last few reps were tough.
Then...
20-15-10-5
Sumo DL high pulls (65lbs, I technically did it at 63lbs since I used the womens bar. But I still say it was RX'd)
box jumps (did it on the women's box, which I believe is 20 inches)
For some twisted reason, I REALLY like Sumo DL HP's. I think because its mainly a leg/hip driven movement, which is where most of my strength is. I also like box jumps. Simple and straight forward. Did it in 5:55, which I'm pretty happy with. Overall, good workout and man did it help me get over the residual soreness I still had from Monday. My hamstrings have been SO TIGHT, which tend to get somewhat loosened up when I'm riding but not this time. I think the DL's helped alot because they're feeling better this morning.
Anyway, lesson on Arwen tonight with Trainer's new assistant/friend/helper. Hopefully I don't make too big a fool of myself.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
A little bit better
Had another lesson last night with one of my trainer's assistants. Kept it really low key, and went through the same two stride-bending six stride that we did the night before.
New thing last night though-Arwen was being sluggish off the leg going forward, although she was responding well laterally. Also, really trying to evade the bit at the canter. Not sure if its from all the work we were doing the night before, or I'm doing something weird with my hands. Will have to figure it out tomorrow. Regardless, she gave me some really nice lateral movement. Towards the end too, she was moving off with just slight leg pressure. Still not completely straight, but she's starting to work with me on what I'm asking her, as opposed to ignoring.
The one benefit of all that flat/lateral stuff-she was AWESOME over our warm up jumps. Not rushing, and actually carrying herself through the corners as opposed to diving in and rushing. It felt so great. She was also approaching and cantering away nice and calmly. That is the feeling I've got to strive for every time I ride her.
And then, we started doing the two stride-bending line again. Tried to make her fit the seven in again. Had a few pretty ugly goes, but then we got one good one where she was really compressing her stride and fitting it in nicely, as opposed to rushing at the end of the two stride and forcing me to fit a super duper tight 7. After the got the 7, we tried for the 6 again. But, me and my brain was still thinking she was going to get there too easy so I started getting handsy again. Finally, last time through she did the 6 really nicely and we quit on that.
The take aways from last night: lateral really is the key. Getting her to respect and move off my leg, and not use it as a crutch to lean/balance on. Also, to not let her do it to begin with
I also decided that Arwen really does try to do what I'm asking her. We just run into problems when what she thinks I should be asking her isn't the same as what I really am asking her. But, she does have a lot of try in her. She tries to do what she thinks is the right thing, and then gets upset when I'm telling her its not what I really wanted. So somewhere in there our lines of communication are still a little bit fuzzy and thats my fault. I really hope with this flat work focus it becomes more clear to her and me what we're asking of each other. That, and I'm going to try the clicker training. I bought it ages ago, just never got around to doing it.
New thing last night though-Arwen was being sluggish off the leg going forward, although she was responding well laterally. Also, really trying to evade the bit at the canter. Not sure if its from all the work we were doing the night before, or I'm doing something weird with my hands. Will have to figure it out tomorrow. Regardless, she gave me some really nice lateral movement. Towards the end too, she was moving off with just slight leg pressure. Still not completely straight, but she's starting to work with me on what I'm asking her, as opposed to ignoring.
The one benefit of all that flat/lateral stuff-she was AWESOME over our warm up jumps. Not rushing, and actually carrying herself through the corners as opposed to diving in and rushing. It felt so great. She was also approaching and cantering away nice and calmly. That is the feeling I've got to strive for every time I ride her.
And then, we started doing the two stride-bending line again. Tried to make her fit the seven in again. Had a few pretty ugly goes, but then we got one good one where she was really compressing her stride and fitting it in nicely, as opposed to rushing at the end of the two stride and forcing me to fit a super duper tight 7. After the got the 7, we tried for the 6 again. But, me and my brain was still thinking she was going to get there too easy so I started getting handsy again. Finally, last time through she did the 6 really nicely and we quit on that.
The take aways from last night: lateral really is the key. Getting her to respect and move off my leg, and not use it as a crutch to lean/balance on. Also, to not let her do it to begin with
I also decided that Arwen really does try to do what I'm asking her. We just run into problems when what she thinks I should be asking her isn't the same as what I really am asking her. But, she does have a lot of try in her. She tries to do what she thinks is the right thing, and then gets upset when I'm telling her its not what I really wanted. So somewhere in there our lines of communication are still a little bit fuzzy and thats my fault. I really hope with this flat work focus it becomes more clear to her and me what we're asking of each other. That, and I'm going to try the clicker training. I bought it ages ago, just never got around to doing it.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Meh.
Had my first lesson after the breakdown on Saturday. Wasn't great, but also wasn't horrible. We spent a lot of time at the beginning of the lesson working on getting her to give to my hand/the bit, and getting her to not lean on my inside leg and actually bend correctly around a circle. I got a few steps in there where I went "ah ha!!" but then I would lose it. I asked my trainer if she has to continually ask Arwen for it too, and she said "oh yea". Only difference is for her, its automatic. She reacts before it even happens. I, on the other hand, react after it happens. Which again, all comes down to feel. That elusive "thing" that we strive for in riding and that I just seem to be somewhat lacking in naturally.
Anyway...after working on the flat for a bit, we started jumping a crossrail. Trotted both ways, was excellent (at least those trot jumps have gotten really good. I am happy about that). No longer sticky to/over the jump, and she canters away sooooo quietly. Makes me wonder why she can't canter away quietly like that when cantering a jump? Will have to ponder this one for a bit. Trainer then had us do the collected five stride again (which she was fine in 3 out of 4 times. The one time she did try and drift right, I pulled her up after and made sure she was moving off that right leg. She didn't try it again), then the two stride to a bending six. Two stride was much much better in terms of straightness. But, she still wants to land and scoot off, and then the canter through the bending six is tight where we either chip, leave out, or its all pogo stick bouncy. I just want a nice, even canter through there people!
99% of this is flatwork. That much has been made clear to me. Through the bending six, its like she isn't wanting to accept my aids. Trainer had me just taking a steady feel and while she was coming back to me, she wouldn't do it until about three strides away from the jump which is too late to get that smoothed out, even tempo canter. So trainer agreed with my plan that its going to be all about flatwork with her right now and that it will definitely benefit both of us to get me working with her on the more advanced flatwork stuff. Because after all, she knows how to do, she just hasn't been asked to do it much in the past year I've owned her. We'll still jump, but we're going to keep it super simple.
Anyway...after working on the flat for a bit, we started jumping a crossrail. Trotted both ways, was excellent (at least those trot jumps have gotten really good. I am happy about that). No longer sticky to/over the jump, and she canters away sooooo quietly. Makes me wonder why she can't canter away quietly like that when cantering a jump? Will have to ponder this one for a bit. Trainer then had us do the collected five stride again (which she was fine in 3 out of 4 times. The one time she did try and drift right, I pulled her up after and made sure she was moving off that right leg. She didn't try it again), then the two stride to a bending six. Two stride was much much better in terms of straightness. But, she still wants to land and scoot off, and then the canter through the bending six is tight where we either chip, leave out, or its all pogo stick bouncy. I just want a nice, even canter through there people!
99% of this is flatwork. That much has been made clear to me. Through the bending six, its like she isn't wanting to accept my aids. Trainer had me just taking a steady feel and while she was coming back to me, she wouldn't do it until about three strides away from the jump which is too late to get that smoothed out, even tempo canter. So trainer agreed with my plan that its going to be all about flatwork with her right now and that it will definitely benefit both of us to get me working with her on the more advanced flatwork stuff. Because after all, she knows how to do, she just hasn't been asked to do it much in the past year I've owned her. We'll still jump, but we're going to keep it super simple.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
WOD 10/3/2011
Let me preface this by saying this one really, really sucked. Looked deceptively simple on paper, but it was a ball buster. Particularly hard for me because, well, I've been pretty much failing at getting in 3 times a week workouts consistently, and its showing in my results. Apparently, its also showing in my riding (see previous posts, lol). I think its been at least a good two months since I've been able to string together multiple weeks of consistent workouts. So, new resolution for October is to do the entire month back at my three times a week. If this means going to the early morning class, that is what I'm going to do. Because it really irks me to be getting so fatigued in these longer/harder WOD's, for no reason other than my endurance isn't what it should be, due to my own laziness.
Without further ado, the WOD:
20 calorie row
30 burpees
40 DB ground to OH (either a clean to a push press, or a weird kind of hybrid of a snatch/kettlebell swing. 25 lb DB's was women's RX)
50 toes to bar (I did KTE)
100 ft lunges with 45 lb plate (supposed to go OH, but at that point I didn't even try. I was lucky I could hold that thing to my chest)
Completed in 17 minutes. Longer than I wanted, but still sub 20 minutes. I've been using the 25lb DB's for all WODs lately, but last night they just felt especially heavy. I could only do 5 reps at a time, which is not good. At one point I was even tempted to ask to grab the 15lbs, but made the decision to suffer through because the 15lbs would have just been way too easy.
All in all, glad I did it, but I'm definitely feeling the pain today.
Without further ado, the WOD:
20 calorie row
30 burpees
40 DB ground to OH (either a clean to a push press, or a weird kind of hybrid of a snatch/kettlebell swing. 25 lb DB's was women's RX)
50 toes to bar (I did KTE)
100 ft lunges with 45 lb plate (supposed to go OH, but at that point I didn't even try. I was lucky I could hold that thing to my chest)
Completed in 17 minutes. Longer than I wanted, but still sub 20 minutes. I've been using the 25lb DB's for all WODs lately, but last night they just felt especially heavy. I could only do 5 reps at a time, which is not good. At one point I was even tempted to ask to grab the 15lbs, but made the decision to suffer through because the 15lbs would have just been way too easy.
All in all, glad I did it, but I'm definitely feeling the pain today.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Happy One Year Anniversary, Arwen
Thought I would do this as a separate post.
A year ago today I made the decision to purchase a super experienced, trained, forward jumper to be my very first horse. She wasn't exactly what I had in mind for my first horse. She is a mare, first of all, plain bay with a little bit of chrome and well, did I mention she is a mare? I had always imagined I would end up with a gelding of some sort because I have always clicked better with male animals in general. But, the first time up on her back and I was sold. Even though she was forward and a bit hot, I immediately felt safe on her. I knew that she wouldn't do anything stupid, or try and hurt me.
That much has turned out to be true. She has a great brain, without a doubt. Her spooks are pretty few and far between, and there is nothing crazy about her. I've never seen her buck/bolt/rear, even when pushed hard. She stands quietly when I get off her in the arena to set jumps, and only once have I seen her run around in turnout. For the most part, she just meanders off to eat some grass and roll.
This is not to say that we haven't had our challenges. She is a tough ride, for me at least. I got her coming off a nice, confidence building horse who is simple and sweet. Basically just had to sit there and he would tool around a course like a good boy. Didn't have many bad habits, other than being sloooooooow (which for a beginner is good). After him though, I knew I wanted something with a little more fire and I definitely got her. She has proved to be a true challenge. No more sitting up there, expecting the horse to make decisions, only having to worry about the "go" button. Arwen wants me to help her make choices. She wants me to tell her what she is supposed to be doing. And most of all, she wants me to support those decisions and not throw the decision to her at the last minute. She has truly made me into a rider who is thinking about all aspects of the ride, as opposed to just "there's a fence, lets go!".
She really has taught me so much in this past year. She has taught me to be patient but firm. That consistency is good but that you have to ride the horse you have, and sometimes the plan goes out the window. She has taught me to see distances, whereas before I saw nothing. She has taught me about pace, impulsion, responsiveness and compromise. Most importantly though, she has shown me how rewarding it is to have an equine partner in this crazy journey of riding I embarked upon in adulthood. I love you Ponyface, even if you're a brat sometimes!
A year ago today I made the decision to purchase a super experienced, trained, forward jumper to be my very first horse. She wasn't exactly what I had in mind for my first horse. She is a mare, first of all, plain bay with a little bit of chrome and well, did I mention she is a mare? I had always imagined I would end up with a gelding of some sort because I have always clicked better with male animals in general. But, the first time up on her back and I was sold. Even though she was forward and a bit hot, I immediately felt safe on her. I knew that she wouldn't do anything stupid, or try and hurt me.
That much has turned out to be true. She has a great brain, without a doubt. Her spooks are pretty few and far between, and there is nothing crazy about her. I've never seen her buck/bolt/rear, even when pushed hard. She stands quietly when I get off her in the arena to set jumps, and only once have I seen her run around in turnout. For the most part, she just meanders off to eat some grass and roll.
This is not to say that we haven't had our challenges. She is a tough ride, for me at least. I got her coming off a nice, confidence building horse who is simple and sweet. Basically just had to sit there and he would tool around a course like a good boy. Didn't have many bad habits, other than being sloooooooow (which for a beginner is good). After him though, I knew I wanted something with a little more fire and I definitely got her. She has proved to be a true challenge. No more sitting up there, expecting the horse to make decisions, only having to worry about the "go" button. Arwen wants me to help her make choices. She wants me to tell her what she is supposed to be doing. And most of all, she wants me to support those decisions and not throw the decision to her at the last minute. She has truly made me into a rider who is thinking about all aspects of the ride, as opposed to just "there's a fence, lets go!".
She really has taught me so much in this past year. She has taught me to be patient but firm. That consistency is good but that you have to ride the horse you have, and sometimes the plan goes out the window. She has taught me to see distances, whereas before I saw nothing. She has taught me about pace, impulsion, responsiveness and compromise. Most importantly though, she has shown me how rewarding it is to have an equine partner in this crazy journey of riding I embarked upon in adulthood. I love you Ponyface, even if you're a brat sometimes!
My Pity Party Weekend
So incredibly frustrated with myself. After a good solid few months of nice rides with Arwen, it all went to hell on Saturday (insert dramatic music here, complete with high pitched violins). Since starting CrossFit, I have said how despite some refusals, I have managed to stay on. Not on Saturday. We were coming down a pretty forward set line where you had to have a decent in fence in order to make the striding. First time through, no problem. Rode easy since Arwen wants to do the lines forward anyway. Second time through, we had a crappy in, and I still tried to push for the striding. Ended up being a SUPER long spot at the second fence, and Arwen slammed on the brakes (rightfully so-this spot was dangerously long, even for a 2'6" fence). I ended up on her neck, then swung over the side. Granted, I landed on my feet so I'm not sure I even consider it a real "fall", but still. We had gone probably five months with no involuntary dismounts and my crappy riding broke the streak. BLARGH! Its funny because I don't miss distance in general that much. Sometimes I've got a chip here or there, but for the most part they're nothing horrible and nothing too scary. But when I do miss badly, its ALWAYS at a long spot and I ALWAYS lean forward, and throw my reins away, expecting the horse to take charge. Trainer and I have discussed this many a time. If I JUST. SIT. BACK and keep leg on at those spots, 9 times out of 10 it is pretty much guaranteed that Arwen would fit the last stride in herself and do an ugly chip, but still get over the fence. Its because I throw all my weight forward and take away the support that she slams on the brakes.
That was just the beginning of the end for this lesson though. Earlier in the week, I had noticed that she was drifting a bit right going down lines. Apparently, in my complacency I continued to let her do it and it came to a head on Saturday. Going down this a different line, set more conservative, she was veering right, totally bulging against my right leg and ignoring it completely. This resulted in another refusal (which I managed to sit, thankfully). Weaved her back and forth in front of that fence, did a tight circle, and popped her over it again. Went back over the line the other way. Same thing, bulging to the right, although no more refusals. And then...she started leaving out a stride. At this point, I think I'm just getting tired and frazzled. Trainer has me take her through a little two stride set with crossrails and Arwen stumbles through it, knocking the crossrails. Crossrails, for petes sake! At this point I feel like I'm doing more harm than good because the tools in my tool box just aren't working. So trainer has me get off, so she can get on to see what I'm feeling.
Arwen proceeds to get her ass whooped for the next half hour.
Thankfully, trainer felt what I was feeling too, so it wasn't all my imagination. She also said that Arwen sometimes would rather fight you, than give in. That is why that argument lasted 30 minutes. All she wanted her to do was get off that right side and Arwen was resisting it, hard. At one point trainer just had her right leg on, and Arwen was backing around the ring instead of just doing a simple leg yield.
Honestly, I think what it all comes down to is what I had been wanting to do originally for the rest of the year. LOTS more lateral work. She needs it. She needs to respect my leg and respect me, even on days where she is feeling less than respectful (like Saturday). I need to DEMAND more from her, instead of letting her get away with so much. I also need to stop relaxing when things go well, because she will take that little bit of freedom and run with it. She's a total alpha mare, and I think in her mind we're kind of just buddies. I'm not the clear cut leader yet and I don't know if I'll ever be. But I am going to try. Because when Arwen works with me, its super fabulous awesome. But when she doesn't, shit like Saturday happens.
So armed with my newfound determination, on Sunday I went out ready to tackle the same lines, but as ground pole versions. But the arena was closed and it looked like they were going to start doing some work in there. FOILED! Instead, we just did a lot of walk work. A lot. I worked on getting her to give to me, we did a TON of lateral stuff and I didn't let her give me any shit. I was carrying a dressage whip (which I think I will do from now on in flatwork stuff) and when she ignored my leg, she got a tap. She got all indignant and dramatic about it at first (head tossing, snorting, etc) but wouldn't you know, it just took the one tap. I got some really good leg yielding and haunches in from her towards the end, and once she gave me that, I decided to end on a positive note.
Arwen is a funny mare. Like I've said before, she definitely keeps me on my toes. The second I become more of a passenger, rides go downhill. I've had her a year today, and in that year she has taught me so much I can't believe how much I didn't know before I got her. So while it is sometimes extremely frustrating, I know I will forever be thankful for the experiences she has given me.
That was just the beginning of the end for this lesson though. Earlier in the week, I had noticed that she was drifting a bit right going down lines. Apparently, in my complacency I continued to let her do it and it came to a head on Saturday. Going down this a different line, set more conservative, she was veering right, totally bulging against my right leg and ignoring it completely. This resulted in another refusal (which I managed to sit, thankfully). Weaved her back and forth in front of that fence, did a tight circle, and popped her over it again. Went back over the line the other way. Same thing, bulging to the right, although no more refusals. And then...she started leaving out a stride. At this point, I think I'm just getting tired and frazzled. Trainer has me take her through a little two stride set with crossrails and Arwen stumbles through it, knocking the crossrails. Crossrails, for petes sake! At this point I feel like I'm doing more harm than good because the tools in my tool box just aren't working. So trainer has me get off, so she can get on to see what I'm feeling.
Arwen proceeds to get her ass whooped for the next half hour.
Thankfully, trainer felt what I was feeling too, so it wasn't all my imagination. She also said that Arwen sometimes would rather fight you, than give in. That is why that argument lasted 30 minutes. All she wanted her to do was get off that right side and Arwen was resisting it, hard. At one point trainer just had her right leg on, and Arwen was backing around the ring instead of just doing a simple leg yield.
Honestly, I think what it all comes down to is what I had been wanting to do originally for the rest of the year. LOTS more lateral work. She needs it. She needs to respect my leg and respect me, even on days where she is feeling less than respectful (like Saturday). I need to DEMAND more from her, instead of letting her get away with so much. I also need to stop relaxing when things go well, because she will take that little bit of freedom and run with it. She's a total alpha mare, and I think in her mind we're kind of just buddies. I'm not the clear cut leader yet and I don't know if I'll ever be. But I am going to try. Because when Arwen works with me, its super fabulous awesome. But when she doesn't, shit like Saturday happens.
So armed with my newfound determination, on Sunday I went out ready to tackle the same lines, but as ground pole versions. But the arena was closed and it looked like they were going to start doing some work in there. FOILED! Instead, we just did a lot of walk work. A lot. I worked on getting her to give to me, we did a TON of lateral stuff and I didn't let her give me any shit. I was carrying a dressage whip (which I think I will do from now on in flatwork stuff) and when she ignored my leg, she got a tap. She got all indignant and dramatic about it at first (head tossing, snorting, etc) but wouldn't you know, it just took the one tap. I got some really good leg yielding and haunches in from her towards the end, and once she gave me that, I decided to end on a positive note.
Arwen is a funny mare. Like I've said before, she definitely keeps me on my toes. The second I become more of a passenger, rides go downhill. I've had her a year today, and in that year she has taught me so much I can't believe how much I didn't know before I got her. So while it is sometimes extremely frustrating, I know I will forever be thankful for the experiences she has given me.
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